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The History of WD-40
- snarfy 7y agoIIRC the main ingredient is kerosene.
- Mc_Big_G 7y agoI guess I could read the article, but I remember it as fish oil.
- edent 7y agoNope. WD-40 themselves specifically call that a myth. https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/ https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/
- AnimalMuppet 7y agoYou might be thinking of Rustoleum?
- DonHopkins 7y agoOr Clamato? But that was clam oil. https://foxpeakoutdoorsupply-com.3dcartstores.com/Hawbakers-1-oz-Concentrated-Clam-Oil-_p_29.html https://foxpeakoutdoorsupply-com.3dcartstores.com/Hawbakers-...
- hug 7y agoReading the article wouldn't help, in this instance, since the only ingredient it supposes might be in the formula is otter semen.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- tabtab 7y agoJust because the main ingredient is kerosene doesn't necessarily mean that's all that's needed to make the equivalent. I wonder how hard it would be to duplicate the formula if one had a spectral analyzer. Study the plots, make a best guess batch, test its plot against the original, adjust, rinse, repeat... (Same with KFC. I could profit off the President if I can get him the same thing at a discount. He's a volume customer. I confess, I also like KFC. Despite the rumors, it doesn't make one's skin orange, just chubby.)
- smileypete 7y ago>The WD part of the name was descriptive for what the coating did to Water, which was Displace it, and it took the company 40 tries to get it right. I bet you can figure it out from there Smells like marketing to me, it just doesn't need 40 attempts to come up with a simple mix of kerosene and mineral oil. I bet the old timers used to mix their own variations long before WD-40 came on the scene. https://www.wired.com/2009/04/st-whatsinside-6/ https://www.wired.com/2009/04/st-whatsinside-6/
- maxerickson 7y agoIt doesn't seem ridiculous that they would have tested dozens of variations for different properties.
- analog31 7y agoWell, even if it did nothing else, a mixture of kerosene and oil would displace water. I find it to be handy, but don't ascribe any magical properties to it. And when it runs out, I might find a better way to dispense it, that doesn't get the overspray on my garage floor.
- spicybbq 7y agoIt contains a lot of solvent (kerosene) and a smaller amount of light lubricant. One problem is that it tends to wash away heavier greases and oils that provide more persistent lubrication to things like hinges and bike chains. Then, the light lubricant is not very persistent. It can flow out of where you put it, leaving streaks, and it attracts dust. I mostly use it to clean parts before using a proper lubricant. A much better light spray lubricant is Tri-Flow.
- mturmon 7y ago> ... mostly use it to clean parts ... Yep. I just used some to clean shipping grease from a cast iron table of a machine tool. Worked great, and less volatile than paint thinner/mineral spirits.
- pengaru 7y agoSame, I find it very effective for cleaning/degreasing parts without bringing real degreasers/soaps/water into the picture. It's also really useful for spraying down bicycle/motorcycle chains after they get wet to prevent rusting. But it does require some fresh lube after things dry off.
- cstross 7y agoCorrection: article asserts that the Atlas ICBM was the first operational intercontinental missile. This is incorrect -- that honour belongs to the R-7 Semyorka, which beat it by several months and which is still in service today as the Soyuz launch vehicle. (Yes, there's a thing called Atlas-5 that flies satellites: it's hard to see any engineering similarities between it and the original ICBM of that name; unlike the Soyuz vehicle, Which was a terrible, bad, no-good ICBM -- it took about 6 hours to fuel up and prep for launch, on pads which were 4 hours from the USSR's border as the B-52 flies -- but turned out to be a really good satellite launcher.)
- basementcat 7y agoBoth R-7 and Atlas SM-65 were difficult to keep in a state of launch readiness and were not capable of being launched at a moment's notice (unless a "moment" is between 6 and 12 hours). This was somewhat expected as they were essentially "version 1.0" of the ICBM launch vehicle. Later generations were considerably improved.
- anonymousiam 7y agoAtlas Centaur is still used today for ULA launches. It is the most reliable launch vehicle in existence.
- jccooper 7y agoCentaur is somewhat derived from the original Atlas. The Atlas V itself has very little lineage from the Atlas SM-65, other than name, though it is somewhat connected in a weird ship-of-Thesus way. (It uses the same engines as the Atlas III, which uses the same tank construction technique as the original Atlas.)
- chipsa 7y agoAtlas evolved quite a bit over the years. They added Centaur to the top. They changed from the stage and a half staging. They added solid rocket boosters. They went from balloon tanks to iso grid based rigid tanks.
- milsorgen 7y ago
- cat199 7y agoInteresting to read: This is what the Rocket Chemical Company figured out how to make: a coating for Atlas missiles that prevented rust and corrosion. since WD-40 is popular among gun enthusiasts (if not others) specifically as a cheap alternative to using other oils for rust prevention..
- eth0up 7y agoI'll claim no membership among "enthusiasts", but either way, the most glorious lube for me is Ballistol. Good on nearly everything, including that mentioned. To me, since childhood, WD-40 has always had a loathsome aroma. I first discovered it, as a youth, in my pa's garage, where I'd spray it over the flame of my lighter to excessive satisfaction, and onto many things with minimal discretion. Always made me nauseous, combustion or not. I have almost acquired an affection for the scent of Ballistol, which is marketed as having "No Carcinogens", but does quite well on the many things that are and ain't (carcinogenic). I sincerely recommend it.
- mod 7y agoWeird, WD40 is one of my favorite smells. It's the best chemical smell I can think of. I can't speak for Ballistol, but I probably like that too.
- DonHopkins 7y agoIt's the delicious bouquet of banana ester! WD-40 is Edge Body Spray for nerds. https://io9.gizmodo.com/debunking-the-myth-of-the-fake-banana-flavor-1629459201 https://io9.gizmodo.com/debunking-the-myth-of-the-fake-banan... https://www.huffpost.com/entry/artificial-banana-flavor_n_3148882 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/artificial-banana-flavor_n_31...
- joecool1029 7y agoI do greatly prefer the smell of Kroil or CLP Break Free to WD40, but WD40 isn't bad.
- Zancarius 7y ago
- kev009 7y agoGreat study in marketing. Not good at all as a lubricant nor anti-seize, and probably shouldn't be the most ubiquitous thing people own for those general use cases but it is. A light machine oil for cleaning and preserving tools and other metal, and a penetrating anti-seize would be more handy.
- Craighead 7y agoWhich two would you recommend?
- opwieurposiu 7y agoI use "Marvel Mystery Oil" for light machine oil duty. It is a red color oil about 5wt. Does not have problems with drying out or becoming gummy. It has a particular smell, kind of cinnamonish. I use because my grandad used it. I think he used it because it smells good.
- joshuaheard 7y agoThe biggest myth about WD-40 is that it is a lubricant, which is not what it is for. You are much better off lubricating with teflon or silicone based products, 3-in-1 oil, or straight mineral oil. I use WD-40 mostly on my boat for corrosion protection of moving parts.
- gameswithgo 7y agopeople looove to say this, we have all heard it, but it does lubricate. if you have a dry bike or motorcycle chain and only wd40 on hand use it, it works. just be sure to get a better chain lubricant quick or keep applying the wd40 every day because it doesn’t stick around very long.
- thescriptkiddie 7y agoIt is essentially heavy grease dissolved in kerosene. It makes a good cleaner for bare metal parts because unlike soap or de-greaser, it won't strip all of the existing grease off. But the thin layer of grease left behind also doesn't last long, and then you're back to bare metal. With that disclaimer, I frequently use it as a chain lubricant for mountain bikes. You have to reapply it basically after every ride, but you're going to want to do that anyway when your chain gets covered in mud and dirt. On road bikes and motorcycles I always use a dry wax lube that lasts much longer but is difficult to clean off.
- joecool1029 7y agoI have used it on motorcycle chains before, it's better than running it dry on a dirtbike but as you said, it won't stick to it. View it as a chain cleaner (like kerosene is used to do). The silicone chain lube is the way to go.
- m463 7y agoNo no no no. Only in the most limited circumstances, like "Stuck in the backwoods with a rusted bike chain, a can of wd-40 and have to outrun a raging wildebeast..." Putting wd-40 on a bike chain will remove all existing working lubricant. Triflow ftw.
- 7y ago
- nimbius 7y agodisclosure: I work in automotive trade craft as a diesel mechanic and I dont care to have WD40 in my shop at all for a few reasons: 0. It is a solvent, not a lubricant. This is often lost on apprentices until they wear out a drive chain or blow up a firearm. WD40 does a terrible job of blurring that line. even the article touts it several times as a lubricant :( 1. it absolutely CAN NOT be used around hot work, unlike most other lubricants like ND999. cans --aerosol or not-- are treated just like a can of petrol. 2. Again, it is stunningly flammable both in and out of its aerosol form because its mostly kerosene. That means aerosol vapors floating around a powdercoat setup, an open flame, or any ignition spark, will cause it to catch fire. if your apprentice just hosed down a part with WD40 and you need to take a torch to it, youre going to have a bad time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40
- germinalphrase 7y agoWhat is your preferred alternative?
- joecool1029 7y agoDon't wanna sound like a crazy sales guy, but I prefer Kano Kroil as a penetrating oil. A few drops of the stuff on any rusted bolt and it's friggin amazing. http://www.kanolabs.com/ http://www.kanolabs.com/ I wouldn't use it as a lubricant though past getting seized bolts freed up, but really it's 100% replaced WD-40 for me when working on rusted and old equipment.
- lhuser123 7y agoTransmission fluid plus acetone is excellent for seized bolts. I wonder why.
- potentialverand 7y agoProject Farm tested 7 penetrating oils. ATF/Acetone ranked 2nd place above many specifically designed fluids. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEob2oAKVs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUEob2oAKVs
- linsomniac 7y agoLast year a co-worker asked me if I could bring in some WD-40 for him. I asked what he was going to use it for; I always try to understand the problem someone is trying to solve. He said his chair was squeaking, so I suggested lithium grease instead. Another coworker said "Are you one of those WD-40-isn't-a-lubricant guys?" I immediately replied "Absolutely".
- mrspuratic 7y agoSomeone I knew of used WD-40 on their squeaky chair in their office, which triggered the gas sensor in the fire system. Which caused a full fire alarm, evacuation, and activation of the DR site. Whoops. Another good reason not to use it ;-)
- linsomniac 7y agoI just watched this Everyday Astronaut video about stainless steel vs. composites, which mentions WD-40's use in aerospace. It's an entertaining, informational video. https://youtu.be/LogE40_wR9k?t=305 https://youtu.be/LogE40_wR9k?t=305 (jumps directly to the WD-40 reference)
- WilsonPaige 7y agoAnyone know where I can get a good oil can - the old kind with a long neck and you press the bottom with your thumb to squeeze out a drop of oil?
- CapitalistCartr 7y agoI got mine off Ebay. Then my wife repurposed them as decorative elements.
- lsaferite 7y agoSomething like this? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004YK76 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004YK76
- WilsonPaige 7y agoYes! I settled on the Goldenrod 505 oiler which has a simple straight neck. Thank you very much.
- metiscus 7y agoFor a lot of purposes where you might reach for WD 40 red and tacky seemingly works well in my experience.
- exabrial 7y agoLooking at the MSDS, I believe the "water displacement" chemical used is naptha, but they don't go into detail about the oil used, but it's long rumored to be kerosene... Take that as you will.
- econcon 7y agoI use kerosene or gasoline to unclog instead of wd40 For most general purpose use, I use white Lithium grease. If it's metal to plastic or plastic to plastic contact surface: silicone oil/grease (mostly in 3d printed parts) If it's metal on metal and in dirty environment: I use dry teflon lube or ceramic lube (mostly on my mountain bike and 3d printer lead screw) If it's heavy metal on metal where it can heat significantly: MolyD grease or graphite grease
- quietbritishjim 7y agoLots of people here are saying that WD-40 will clean dirt out but is not a lubricant (or is a terrible lubricant). As a not-very-practical person, here's my question: If you have something very dirty that you want to lubricate, say a bicycle chain, is it reasonable to apply WD-40 first to get rid of the dirt and then apply a better lubricant on the now-clean chain? Or will the WD-40 stick around long enough to prevent the better lubricant sticking? If the second, what the hell am I meant to do about my dirty chain that needs lubricating?
- m0nty 7y agoWD40 is indeed great for cleaning things, including bike parts. And you can use it as you suggest, then apply another lubricant designed for bike chains. However, there are other cleaners specifically designed for bike chains. It's just that WD40 is often in the workshop or toolbox so it tends to get used for this sort of task.
- short_sells_poo 7y agoIf I remember my mechanic's advice correctly, you have to be careful what solvents you use. You might dilute/prevent lubricants from actually staying inside the chain links with WD40. Put differently: the solvent you use should be paired with the lubricant to ensure you get the best effect from both. Almost universally, the recommendation was not to use WD40 because it's just not good. I may be talking "old wives tales" here though so I'd like an actual mechanic to correct me please.
- m0nty 7y agoAnother my mechanics fan ;) Was literally just watching his latest video. Happy not to use WD40 if that's his advice. I know oiling bearings which have grease in them is a no-no for just the reason you describe - will loosen the grease and so ultimately damage the bearing.
- Theodores 7y agoWD-40 marketing is clever. Sometimes you need that brand for a product to be stocked. Regular household oil costs pennies in a can, the margin is therefore low and a retailer isn't going to be making much money on each sale. You could put a brand on a regular household oil and try to charge more but it is not something people care about, they will go for the generic oil somewhere else. However WD-40 with its mythical backstory and ambiguous brand name can command a premium over regular household oil. This makes it work for the retailer as it no longer sells for pennies. The shop down the road that also stocks it will also have it at the same price, it is a brand that works for the retailer. People can ask for it by name and not feel they are getting conned. This works up the retail chain with wholesalers and international distributors able to make money from the brand. Odd that for such a beginner's grade product it comes from the cutting edge of the space age.
- joefaith 7y agoThere is an Australian version of WD-40 called 'start ya bastard'. https://www.nulon.com.au/products/aerosols/start-ya-bastard-instant-engine-starter https://www.nulon.com.au/products/aerosols/start-ya-bastard-...